an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil.
any of various implements resembling or suggesting this, as a kind of plane for cutting grooves or a contrivance for clearing away snow from a road or track.
Type Founding. (formerly) an instrument for cutting the groove in the foot of type.
Bookbinding. a device for trimming the edges of the leaves by hand.
(initial capital letter)Astronomy.
the constellation Ursa Major.
the Big Dipper.
verb (used with object)
to turn up (soil) with a plow.
to make (a furrow) with a plow.
to tear up, cut into, or make a furrow, groove, etc. in (a surface) with or as if with a plow (often followed by up): The tractor plowed up an acre of trees.
to clear by the use of a plow, especially a snowplow (sometimes followed by out): The city's work crews were busily plowing the streets after the blizzard.
to invest, as capital (often followed by into): to plow several hundred million into developing new oil fields.
to reinvest or reutilize (usually followed by back): to plow profits back into new plants and equipment.
(of a ship, boat, animal, etc.)
to cleave the surface of (the water): beavers plowing the pond.
to make (a way) or follow (a course) in this manner: The yacht plowed an easterly course through the choppy Atlantic.
Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
verb (used without object)
to till the soil or work with a plow.
to take plowing in a specified way: land that plows easily.
to move forcefully through something in the manner of a plow (often followed by through, into, along, etc.): The cop plowed through the crowd, chasing after the thief. The car plowed into our house.
to proceed in a slow, laborious, and steady manner (often followed by through): The researcher plowed through a pile of reports.
to move through water by cleaving the surface: a ship plowing through a turbulent sea.
Verb Phrases
plow under,
to bury under soil by plowing.
to cause to disappear; force out of existence; overwhelm: Many mom-and-pop groceries have been plowed under by the big chain stores.
Also especially British, plough .
Origin of plow
before 1100; Middle English plouh, plugh(e), plough(e), Old English plōh; cognate with German Pflug plow